Toulouse centre Kalvin Gourgues is poised to make his debut for France on Saturday in opposition to Australia of their remaining match of the Quilter Nations Collection, simply months after representing his nation on the World Rugby U20 Championship.
The 20-year-old has been chosen on the bench by Fabien Galthie, who has made a couple of tweaks to his beginning XV from the one which triumphed over Fiji 34-21 final week.
The popular second-row pairing of Thibaud Flament and Emmanuel Meafou will return after lacking the victory over Fiji, shifting final week’s duo of Romain Taofifénua and Charles Ollivon to the bench and the back-row, respectively.
Former captain Ollivon’s transfer to the back-row means Oscar Jegou will return to the bench.
The one change to the again line will see Gael Fickou, who captained the aspect in opposition to South Africa, return to the fold, changing Pierre-Louis Barassi, who solely managed 13 minutes final week. Barassi’s Toulouse team-mate Gourgues, who’s able to enjoying within the midfield and on the wing, will present cowl on the bench as certainly one of two backs.
France XV
1. Gros Jean-Baptiste
2. Marchand Julien
3. Montagne Régis
4. Flament Thibaud
5. Meafou Emmanuel
6. Jelonch Anthony
7. Ollivon Charles
8. Alldritt Grégory ©
9. Lucu Maxime
10. Ntamack Romain
11. Bielle-Biarrey Louis
12. Fickou Gaël
13. Deporteerre Nicolas
14. Penaud Damian
15. Ramos Thomas
Replacements
16. Lamothe Maxime
17. Neti Rodrigue
18. Laclayat Thomas
19. Taofifenua Romain
20. Auradou Hugo
21. Jegou Oscar
22. Jauneau Baptiste
23. Gourgues Kalvin
